The German company Birkenstock, which makes sandals, is now a public company worth $8.6 billion. Even though some people thought it wouldn’t do well, the company has become very popular and cool. They worked with fashion designers and famous people to make their sandals more liked. After their sandals were in a Barbie movie, more people wanted to buy them. But, some people worry that being a public company might make Birkenstock care more about money and less about making good sandals.

Birkenstock’s move to be a public company has made some people wonder if it can keep doing well. The company still owns 80% of itself, which shows it believes it will keep doing well. But, the price of its shares went down when they started being sold, which shows some people are worried. Some customers are scared that the company might not care as much about making good sandals now. But, many people think Birkenstock will stay popular if it keeps making comfortable, supportive sandals.

Original news source: Birkenstock: Once-uncool sandal maker now worth billions (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Write key words or phrases from the article on individual index cards. Divide the class into teams. One student from each team will come to the front of the class and choose a card without looking at it. They must then act out or mime the word or phrase on the card, while their team members guess what it is. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Each pair will read the article together and then write a summary of the main points in their own words. After a few minutes, have pairs share their summaries with the rest of the class. Encourage discussion and clarification of any misunderstandings.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write the following question on the board: “Do you think Birkenstock will continue to be popular now that it is a public company?” Have students stand on one side of the room if they think yes, and on the other side if they think no. Allow students to explain their reasoning to the class, and encourage respectful discussion and debate.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write key vocabulary words from the article on individual index cards. Divide the class into teams. One student from each team will come to the front of the class and choose a card without looking at it. They must then draw a picture on the board to represent the word, while their team members guess what it is. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will brainstorm a list of pros and cons of Birkenstock becoming a public company. After a few minutes, have groups share their lists with the rest of the class. Encourage discussion and debate about the different points raised.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What does Birkenstock make?
2. Is Birkenstock a public company now?
3. What did Birkenstock do to make their sandals more popular?
4. Why did more people want to buy Birkenstock sandals after they were in a Barbie movie?
5. Why are some people worried about Birkenstock being a public company?
6. Does Birkenstock still own most of the company?
7. What do some customers worry about now that Birkenstock is a public company?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The German company Birkenstock, which makes (1)______, is now a public company worth $8.6 billion. Even though some people thought it wouldn’t do well, the company has (2)______ very popular and cool. They worked with fashion designers and famous people to make their sandals more liked. After their sandals were in a Barbie movie, more people wanted to buy them. But, some people (3)______ that being a (4)______ company might make Birkenstock care more about money and less about making good sandals.

Birkenstock’s move to be a public company has (5)______ some people wonder if it can (6)______ doing well. The company still owns 80% of itself, which shows it believes it will keep doing well. But, the price of its shares went down when they started being (7)______, which shows some people are worried. Some customers are scared that the (8)______ might not care as much about making good sandals now. But, many people think Birkenstock will stay popular if it keeps making comfortable, supportive sandals.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is Birkenstock?
2. How would you feel if you saw someone wearing Birkenstock sandals?
3. Do you like wearing sandals? Why or why not?
4. What do you think it means for a company to be “popular and cool”?
5. How do you think working with fashion designers and famous people helped Birkenstock?
6. Do you think being in a Barbie movie would make you want to buy something? Why or why not?
7. What do you think it means for a company to care more about money and less about making good sandals?
8. How do you think being a public company might affect Birkenstock?
9. Do you think Birkenstock will continue to do well? Why or why not?
10. How do you think the price of Birkenstock’s shares going down might affect the company?
11. Why do you think some customers are scared that Birkenstock might not care as much about making good sandals now?
12. What do you think makes sandals comfortable and supportive?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Birkenstock
2. sandals
3. public
4. company
5. popular
6. worry
7. money
8. comfortable

Meanings:
(a) Feeling scared or nervous about something
(b) A group of people who work together
(c) Something you use to buy things
(d) Shoes that you wear in the summer
(e) Something that feels nice and cozy on your feet
(f) A brand that makes shoes for your feet
(g) Liked by many people
(h) When everyone knows about something
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Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What does Birkenstock make?
(a) Hats
(b) Pants
(c) Sandals
(d) Shirts

2. How much is Birkenstock worth?
(a) $1 million
(b) $8.6 billion
(c) $100
(d) $10

3. Who did Birkenstock work with to make their sandals more liked?
(a) Doctors and teachers
(b) Dogs and cats
(c) Fashion designers and famous people
(d) Birds and fish

4. Why did more people want to buy Birkenstock sandals after they were in a Barbie movie?
(a) Because they became small and tiny
(b) Because they became big and heavy
(c) Because they became red and blue
(d) Because they became popular and cool

5. What are some people worried about now that Birkenstock is a public company?
(a) That they will care more about money and less about making good sandals
(b) That they will care more about hats and less about making good sandals
(c) That they will care more about pants and less about making good sandals
(d) That they will care more about shirts and less about making good sandals

6. How much of the company does Birkenstock still own?
(a) 50%
(b) 80%
(c) 20%
(d) 100%

7. What happened to the price of Birkenstock’s shares when they started being sold?
(a) It went down
(b) It went up
(c) It stayed the same
(d) It disappeared

8. What do many people think will keep Birkenstock popular?
(a) Making uncomfortable, unsupportive sandals
(b) Making big, heavy sandals
(c) Making red, blue sandals
(d) Making comfortable, supportive sandals

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Their sandals were in a Barbie movie, which made more people want to buy them.
2. Birkenstock only retains 20% ownership, indicating doubt in its ability to continue thriving.
3. Some people believed Birkenstock would struggle, but it became popular and trendy.
4. Birkenstock worked with fashion designers and famous people to make their sandals more liked.
5. Some people believe that being a public company might make Birkenstock prioritize money over making good sandals.
6. The company is now worth $8.6 billion.
7. Birkenstock is a brand that produces sandals.
8. The price of Birkenstock’s shares went down when they started being sold, which shows some people are worried.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What kind of company is Birkenstock?
2. How much is Birkenstock worth?
3. Why did more people want to buy Birkenstock sandals after they were in a Barbie movie?
4. Why are some people worried about Birkenstock being a public company?
5. What do many people think will keep Birkenstock popular?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What does Birkenstock make?
Birkenstock makes sandals.

2. Is Birkenstock a public company now?
Yes, Birkenstock is now a public company.

3. What did Birkenstock do to make their sandals more popular?
Birkenstock worked with fashion designers and famous people to make their sandals more liked.

4. Why did more people want to buy Birkenstock sandals after they were in a Barbie movie?
More people wanted to buy Birkenstock sandals after they were in a Barbie movie because they saw them in the movie and liked them.

5. Why are some people worried about Birkenstock being a public company?
Some people are worried that being a public company might make Birkenstock care more about money and less about making good sandals.

6. Does Birkenstock still own most of the company?
Yes, Birkenstock still owns 80% of the company.

7. What do some customers worry about now that Birkenstock is a public company?
Some customers worry that the company might not care as much about making good sandals now that it is a public company.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) sandals
(2) become
(3) worry
(4) public
(5) made
(6) keep
(7) sold
(8) company
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Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Birkenstock
Answer: (f) A brand that makes shoes for your feet

2. sandals
Answer: (d) Shoes that you wear in the summer

3. public
Answer: (h) When everyone knows about something

4. company
Answer: (b) A group of people who work together

5. popular
Answer: (g) Liked by many people

6. worry
Answer: (a) Feeling scared or nervous about something

7. money
Answer: (c) Something you use to buy things

8. comfortable
Answer: (e) Something that feels nice and cozy on your feet
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What does Birkenstock make?
Answer: (c) Sandals

2. How much is Birkenstock worth?
Answer: (b) $8.6 billion

3. Who did Birkenstock work with to make their sandals more liked?
Answer: (c) Fashion designers and famous people

4. Why did more people want to buy Birkenstock sandals after they were in a Barbie movie?
Answer: (d) Because they became popular and cool

5. What are some people worried about now that Birkenstock is a public company?
Answer: (a) That they will care more about money and less about making good sandals

6. How much of the company does Birkenstock still own?
Answer: (b) 80%

7. What happened to the price of Birkenstock’s shares when they started being sold?
Answer: (a) It went down

8. What do many people think will keep Birkenstock popular?
Answer: (d) Making comfortable, supportive sandals
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Their sandals were in a Barbie movie, which made more people want to buy them. (Answer: True)
2. Birkenstock only retains 20% ownership, indicating doubt in its ability to continue thriving. (Answer: False)
3. Some people believed Birkenstock would struggle, but it became popular and trendy. (Answer: False)
4. Birkenstock worked with fashion designers and famous people to make their sandals more liked. (Answer: True)
5. Some people believe that being a public company might make Birkenstock prioritize money over making good sandals. (Answer: False)
6. The company is now worth $8.6 billion. (Answer: True)
7. Birkenstock is a brand that produces sandals. (Answer: False)
8. The price of Birkenstock’s shares went down when they started being sold, which shows some people are worried. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧